Author: Kelly Hurd (Page 8 of 12)

Scott Nelis on Cajun at Red Bluff in a dry creek bottom. Red Bluff is one of the many impressive works of nature to behold at Pole Canyon Ranch.

Closing in March 2025. Please see the announcement below from Phil Barefield:

Website: http://polecanyon.com/

Location & Contact: Just eight miles southwest of Quitaque, Texas

Part owners and Ranch Managers – Lynnette & Phil Barefield

Pole Canyon Ranch
PO Box 25
Quitaque, Texas 79255
HOME: (806) 455-1446
CELL: (806) 269-1446 or (806) 269-1299
GUEST HOUSE: (806) 455-1299

Email: polecanyon@polecanyon.com

Directions:

From 287 in Estelline turn west onto Highway 86. Stay on 86 into Turkey. In Turkey, 86 will turn to the right, stay on 86. Follow 86 into Quitaque, turn left by Allsups onto FM 1065. This is your last chance for a store or gas. Follow 1065 south, you will be going downhill for about 4 miles. Slow down as you reach the bridge at the bottom of the hill, immediately after the bridge turn right onto FM 689. Travel about 4 miles and Pole Canyon Ranch will be on your right. There is a metal Pole Canyon Ranch sign located at the entrance.

Pole Canyon Ranch entrance is off of FM 689.

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Ride the beach at Bob Hall Pier from Padre Balli Park!

Website: http://nuecesbeachparks.com/pbpark.html

Contact: 361/949-8122 or nueces.ballipark@co.nueces.tx.us

Always call before you haul; park fees and rules may be subject to change.

Location: 15820 Park Road 22
Corpus Christi, TX 78418

Directions: From I-37 South exit #4A at TX 358.  Continue on 358 towards Padre Island.  358 will turn into TX HWY 22 which is also S. Padre Island Drive.  Stay on S. Padre Island Dr. and pass Whitecap Blvd, pass Viento Del Mar, you will see blue entrance signs to the park on the left, pass Access Rd. 5, and then take an immediate left at Padre Balli Park Rd (Access Rd. 5 and Padre Balli Park Rd. initially run parallel to each other).  This road will take you into the park.  Follow the road as it curves to the right and it will take you to the Padre Balli Park office.  Note when using the address in Google Maps it does not take you to the exact location.

Hours: The Padre Balli Park office is open from 8am – 10:30pm seven days a week. The office also has a first aid station.

Padre Balli Park Office

Cost:

Free Day Riding – Riding for the day and parking your truck and trailer at the R. Briscoe King Pavilion in Padre Balli Park is free.  When entering the park a sign will point you to the Pavilion which is on the left.

Recently learned the park has changed their policy and overnight camping with horses is no longer allowed, I will try to find out why this policy was changed and post what I learn.  I appreciate being notified of this change by one of our WTTA visitors.

$20.00 Overnight Camping(No longer permitted) with your horses per rig – If you wish to camp overnight with your horses the cost is $20.00.  Be sure to call ahead as space is limited for equestrian camping, but rarely full.  When entering the park, the overnight camping area designated for equestrians is the first parking/tent camping area  on the right.  This area is marked tent camping and is mostly asphalt. However, there is a sandy area between the asphalt and park road for the horses.   There are no horse pens. You can bring in portable panels or electric pens to set up on the sand.  If you wish to leave your horse tied to the trailer while camping be sure to get permission from the park office first, as they normally do not allow this.  Water and electricity is also available at this primitive camping area. When camping overnight you will need to check in at the office, pay your fees, and collect a permit to place on your truck and trailer. You will also receive a card key for the shower/bathroom house, which is a good walk from the tent camping area.

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Website: http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/waco/Recreation/Trails/Horse.asp

Trail Head Locations:

Lacy Point Access Trailhead:

1000 McLaughlin Rd, Waco, TX 76712

Renold’s Creek Trailhead:

Speegleville Road, Waco, TX 76712

Contact: #254/756-5359

Camping Reservations: #877/444-6777

Directions:

Lacy Point Access Trailhead

In Waco, from Texas HWY 6/ Texas 340 Loop, take the Speegleville Road exit and go Northeast on this road.  At the stop sign turn right on McLaughlin Rd.  On the left there will be a low brown pipe fence and a sign stating “Lacy Point Access Area”, turn left at this sign.  This road will dead end into a circular parking area.  The Equestrian parking and trailhead entrance is on the left just before the road goes into a Y at the circular parking area.

Reynolds Creek Trailhead

From IH35 in Waco, take Hwy 6 North. Cross Lake Waco, turn right on Speegleville Road (there is an exit ramp marked as such), cross Mclaughlin Road, park sign and entrance is on your right.

Cost:

Lacy Point Access Trail Head is free.  Reynolds Creek Trailhead is now complete however, I do not yet know the fee.

Overnight Camping:

Overnight Camping at Reynold’s Creek for Equestrians is allowed!

New Reynold’s Creek Equestrian camping and trailhead underway and expected to be done in 2011!

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Owner of Brave Horse Center, Anne Van Dyke, playing with Rumor on the Brave Horse obstacles.

Website: www.bravehorsetx.com

Contact: Anne Van Dyke #210/912-7048, e-mail: yrcc@earthlink.net

Location: 1619 Creekview Dr., San Antonio, TX 78219

Directions: Click on the address above to see this location on Google Maps.  Brave Horse is located between IH35 and IH10/US90 in San Antonio.

From IH 10/US 90 turn north on North WW White Road, turn left on Dividend Dr, come to a dead end / stop sign and turn right on Creekview Dr. and then take an immediate left (the road splits) continuing on Creekview Dr.    The Brave Horse Center is easy to spot and will be on the left side of the road.

From IH 35 turn south on AT&T Center Parkway, turn left/east on Gembler Rd., turn left on Creekview Drive, pass Dividend Dr. on your right and take an immediate left (the road splits) continue on Creekview Dr.    The Brave Horse Center is easy to spot and will be on the left side of the road.

Hours: by appointment, call ahead.

Cost: Please check with Anne Van Dyke on price, as this is new facility and the prices listed below are subject to change:

$50.00 for an all day clinic

$35.00 for a two hour session

$75.00 package rate for three two hour sessions

Overnight Camping is allowed and overnight pens can be provided, please call Anne to make arrangements ahead of time.

Dogs, must be kept on leases at all times.

Facilities: There is a portable/chemical toilet and running water on the obstacle section of the ranch.  There is a round pen, a larger rectangular pen, and picnic tables located under shade trees.  Plenty of obstacles are present that can also be used as mounting blocks.  The parking area can accommodate approximately 15-20 trailers.  There are plans to install electrical/water hook ups but this is not complete currently.

Mileage: None at this time but plans are underway to clear out some trails.  Brave Horse Center is also a part of the Salado Creek Ranch which currently has a few miles of trails, however, special permission must be obtained to use these trails.

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View from the hills at the Six O Ranch, 12/2010.

Entrance, photo by Jim Edmondson with Optical Harmonics, 12/2010.

Website: None at this time

FaceBook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003311998687

Contact:

Ted and Kim Reeeves #817/558-7146,

e-mail: Kimreeves87@yahoo.com

Location:

11404 FM 200, Cleburne, TX 76033

Directions:

Click on the address above for the Google Map Link. From 35W south of Fort Worth, take 67 west past Cleburne towards Glen Rose and turn south (left) on Park Road 21. Go  approximately 7 miles, pass the State Park and Lime Co on the right, and take the first right onto FM 200.  Six O Ranch will be on your right, there will be a sign and white pipe gate entrance.

Ranch Hours:

Use of the trails is by appointment only.

Wow, what a view!

Cost:

$10.00 per rider a day.

Overnight Camping is allowed by permission only.

Dogs:

No dogs allowed.

Facilities:

Running water is available for use at the ranch. Chemical toilets are available when there is an organized competitive trail ride event, but when there is not an event there are no restroom facilities.  Trailer parking is spacious and is located in front of the house.  There are no electrical hook ups or pens.

Mileage:

Six O Ranch offers 35 miles of riding trails.

Map:

Trail Maps are available upon request. Below is a copy of the map provided by the ranch:

Terrain:

The ranch consists of varied terrain from open fields with soft easy footing, rocky hills, and shaded wooded trails.  There are watering opportunities at the ranch by way of tanks, creeks, and water troughs. A large lake, at least fifty acres in size, is also located on the southwest side of the ranch.

Water stop with a view of the hills in the background. The trough is deeper than the ground surface so don't allow your horse to step in.

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